Magnetic centrifugal separator



Feb. 17, 1925. I 1,527,070

0. B. PECK,JR

MAGNETIC CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR Filed 061;. 5, 1923 unwmum III/III Innmmaa I I n IIIIII/IIII v INVENTOR Patented? Feb. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORRIN B. IPECK, JR., OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

-MAG1\TETIC CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR.

Application filed October 3, 1923. Serial No. 666,274.

Separators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to separation or concentration of mixed solidswhile in a sufficiently crushed state, the component parts of which. aremagnetic and non-magnetic, or are magnetic in dilferent' degrees ofintensity, by subjecting such .materials simultaneously to the opposingenergy of centrifugal force, and magnetic force, assisted by washingforce of liquid, while the latter also forms a mobile medium, preferablyunder pressure, in which the substance under treatment may move betweenthe separated strata of the respective component parts of the ma terial.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is partly an outside elevation of myseparator.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the larger portion of theleft hand side of Fig. 1, showing more clearly certain features.

Fig. 3 is a transverse plan section of the rotatmg parts of myseparator, somewhat reduced in size, taken on line 33, of Fig. 1.

As means for carrying my invention herein described into effect, Iprovide a suitable central rotor or core 2, which is preferably conicalin form, of desired suitable size to serve the purposes required. It maybe of anystructure to form or carry suitable electric magnets and makeup in association, coordination and operation with other parts of myapparatus, although I prefer this core to form in itself the integral orbasic part of the magnet.

In forming this magnetic core, I prefer to employ a suitable steelelement provided with annular channels or corrugations, as shown in thedrawings. into which are wound or placed suitable coils 3. In thisstructure, the extended angular'integral ring parts 4, form the polls ofthe magnet.

- The-coils 3, are so connected as to form successively opposite polesof the extended integral ring parts, thereb creating magnetic gapsbetween these p0 es, in radial circumferential alignment with themagnetic coils.

I prefer thatthe magnetic core be rotatable and positioned vertically,being smallest at its upper or feed end, and that it gradually increasesin diameter, as specially shown in Fig. 1, towards its discharge orlower end, so that the series of magnets of the core as well as magneticgap 5, will progressively increase in diameter from the feed to thedischarge end'of the core.

The core is preferably covered with a comparatively light, or thin metalshield 6, of non-magnetic material, such as copper, to protect the coilsfrom the liquid and material under treatment. trated partly in sectionand partly in outside elevation in Figs. 1 and 2.

Surrounding the core is provided a rotatable conical-shaped vessel 7,preferably of shape circumferentially throughout a large part of itsextent, to conform to the conical shape of the core, but sufiicientlylarger in diameter so as to leave a separating channel or passage 8,between it and the exterior of.

the core, of size suitable to operate as desired in performance of theseparator, being well within the effective magnetic field of the core.

The lower end of the vessel is provided with a head 9, having anextended central trunnion 10, by which the vessel is journalled andmaintained in a suitable box 11, mounted on the bed plate 12 of theseparator, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The upper end of the vessel is alsoprovided with ahead 13, having an upwardly extended trunnion 14, whichis journalled in box 15, carried on the upper end of a supportingbracket 16, which, in turn, is securely mounted on the bed plate 12 ofthe separator. The upper end of the trunnion 14 is provided with apulley 17 through which rotation may be imparted to the vessel by abelt, not shown, from any suitable source of power.

The vessel has preferably two circumferential enlargements 18 and 19,respectively, as illustrated, near its lower or discharge end, inrelative near proximity, suitably spaced apart, forming interior pocketsor channels, from which radiate comparatively small discharge openings20 and 21. These openings are in circumferential series, preferably inan integral part of the vessel, and are made of size and form to serveas discharge passages, while at the same time This shield is illus-'enabling retention of the required amount of liquid in the vessel toproperly function in the process of separation.

Located circumferentially around the enlargements 18 and 19, are troughsor laun-' the lower end of the core in suitable position.

The upper end of the core is provided with an extended hollow trunnion27 which passes up through and is journalled in the hollow of thetrunnion 14 of the vessel. The trunnion 27 extends somewhat above thetrunnion 14, and is provided with apulley 28, by which the core may berevolved with a belt, not shown, from a suitable source of power, so itwill be seen that the core and vessel may be rotated independently ordifferentially by suitable application: of power for such purpose.

It will be understood that the magnet coils 3, may be connected in suchmanner as desired so long as they effect the purpose sought, although inFig. 1 l have illustrated them as connected in pairs at the bottoms andtops of their windings, alternately, by wires 29 and 30, which willeffect desired polarity of the magnets 4, as shown in the drawing. Theterminal end wires 31 of these coils are carried to the central openingalong the axis of the core and up near its upper end, where there aresuitably located take-oifor slip ring 32 with which contact brushes 33operate to supply electric energizing current from any suitable source,through the wires 34, for such purpose.

The current so supplied may be regulated in intensity and volume, andcut off from the coils as desired,'by any of the ordinary standardmeans, not shown, adapted to that pur ose.

T ere is providedon the up er end of the vessel a ring36, of suitable. sape, as illustrated in Fig. 1 to form a feed channel adapted to receivematerial to be fed 01. flowed into the separating vessel for treatment.This material may be introduced through a pipe 37, and pass down throughopenings 38, in the upper end or head of the vessel, and into theseparating passage 8, where it will be immediately acted on by themagnetic, centrifugal, and liquid washing forces in operation of theseparator, and will pass on, forced by the vflow and scrub of theliquid, down through such passage, towards the discharge end, to.discharge out of the openings 20 and 21. v

As soon as the material enters the separatlng passage, those portions orconstituents which are magnetic will be attracted by and to the core,against the opposing energy of centrifugal force engendered throughrotation, the magnetic constituents at once assuming, against suchopposing forces, a position in contact or along .close to the core,carrying with them however, in entanglement some materials which arenonmagnetic, or are very slightly magnetic, while the materialsnon-magnetic will largely be thrown outward by the centrifugal force andcome in lodgment against the inner circumferential wall of theseparating vessel.

The accretion of material in this manner flowing into the separatingpassage, .will fill and contract such passage sufiiciently so the flowof liquid, resultant to its volume and the frictional contact with thedifferentially rotating vessel and core, will create a sufliciently'strong washing or scouring action on the respective surfaces of theseaccretions to force the same along in their re spective positions, onelargely 1n proximity to the circumference of the core, and the otheragainst or in proximity. to the wall of the vessel towards the dischargeend of the vessel and to'discharge through their respective openings 20and 21 as has been above stated, to be caught in the launders 22 and 23.

It will be understood of course, that during operation the separatingpassage is maintained full of liquid, and is under liq uid pressure,resulting from conihieme nt while being acted upon by centrifugal forceincident to its rotation.

As is especially illustrated in Fig. 2, the accretion of magneticconstituents passing through the separating passage will tend to form,and so far as permitted, will form quite definitely in bridges acrossthe magnetic gaps with their terminals at the opposite poles of therespective magnets of the core, but the difierential rotation of thecore and separating vessel will, as above stated, create a spirallyinclined or helical washing current in the separating passage across themagnetic gaps, from the feed towards the discharge end of the core andvessel, which is indicated approximately by the arrows in Fig. 2.

The scrubbing wash of the flow as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, andas stated,

,will spirally cross the poles and magnetic gaps and in such flow willwholly or in art progressively dislodge and drag the ering magneticmaterial further down along "in the adhering magnetic bed to be thrownoil by the action of centrifugal force and -moved along in the channelon the surface of the vessel by the flow of the liquid.

When the magnetic material or constitu ents passing along in this mannerhas reached the lower end of the core, it will be crowded by suchscrubbing force of liquid off from that end, assisted by the weight of alarger accumulation thereof which will form at this point, as indicatedby the numeral 39 and will be discharged from the vessel through theopening 21, as has already been stated.

The conical, or outward inclination of the vessel and core from theirfeed towards their discharge end, is of material advantage in effectingmovement along the core and Vessel to discharge as the vcentrifugalforce tends to drive this material along its outwardly diverging course.

In operation, of course, it will be understood that whether it isdesired to separate magnetic and non-magnetic material, or materialrelatively strongly and weakly magnetic, the relative intensity orstrength of magnetic and centrifugal, as well as scrubbing force of'theliquid should be adjusted and coordinated to efiect the purpose, or infact, to accomplish any separation which it is desired and possible intreatment of materials by this process. The respective s eed of thevessel and core, as well as the V0 ume of liquid fed into the separatorbeing properly adjusted to that end.

What I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a magnetic centrifugal separator the combination of a rotatableelectromagnet, a surrounding rotatable vessel with a separat ing channelbetween the vessel and the magnet, encircling the latter, adapted tohold liquid and means for rotating the vessel and magnet separately,substantially as described.

2. In a magnetic centrifugal separator the combination of a rotatableelectromagnet, a surrounding rotatable vessel with a separating channelbetween the vessel and magnet, encircling the latter, adapted to holdliquid, material discharge openings from said vessel, adapted todischarge liquid during operation, while at the same time to maintainliquid under pressure in said channel, and means for separatelyrevolving said vessel and magnet, substantially as described.

3. In a magnetic centrifugal separator the combination of anelectromagnetlc core, having successive circumferential magnetic gaps ona horizontal plane, transverse to the axls, and enlarging diametricallytowards the discharge end, a surrounding vesselwith a separating channelbetween the vessel and core, adapted to hold liquid within the effectivefield of the magnet, and provided with discharge holes in multiplecircumferential series in relatively near proximity, and means forrotatin the core and vessel differehtially, substantially as described.

ORRIN B. PEOK, JR.

